Away from the maddening crowd:)

A tired Saturday evening, back from a double lab session apart from so much of fun and laughter amidst processing sauce, ketchup and coffee, I was about to hit the bed. And, Neha, my room mate, (The name stays around me :)) called me along for THE Trip- to Lonavla the next day! Yay! I was super excited. I have always wanted to travel, but never been able to :(
And the day happened. Neha, me and Suma- started on our 'trip' with all broad smiles as we got down the lift:) Lucky enough to find seats in the train, I went along totally clueless. And as the train entered Lonavla, it was bliss indeed. What a visual treat! The weather was so cool; and my mind chucked all its worries and doubts way behind. Our first stop was the obvious- Vada pao and chai! Whats a trip around Maharashtra minus the Vada pao! And then we went around from dam to dam, big ones, small ones and so on, and yeah! The Water Falls! OMG! To just stand there with super cool water beating so fast against your feet- eternal bliss. I dint wanna get out of it. Finally- Shooting Point! Standing at the tip of the cliff, the cameras clicked away, and the air was filled with the scent of Hookah wallahs from behind us ;) How blessed I was with a pair of eyes and intact vision to look at Nature in her complete glory! And we moved on to a similar valley, so full of fog, and so full of mist; as we sat on the cliff, at the edge again, it drizzled- and the moment was Oh-so-perfect! I just wanted to freeze the moment! If only I could hit Pause :(
As it drizzled, dew drops settled on our eye lashes and eye brows- No words to describe what ecstasy I went through. And finally, we wound up Lonavla with some Chai again.
Now, over to Khandala- It wasn even Lonavla-ish; Just a couple of places that made you feel you were standing in the balcony of your apartment. Wonder what ever made Aamir Khan ask Rani out to Khandala! ;)
Finally on our way back- The crowded ride back to Maddening Mumbai- I thank Neha and Suma for that trip of a life time- Nature's glory, our getaway; and for making the trip as memorable and lovely as can be.
So, when you have a hell of a week, all worked up, but want to get away from the maddening crowd, and the city's hustle and bustle- give your mind a break, your eyes a treat, and your life time a memory- Lonavla it is!

And it actually happened!

Mumbai. Meri Jaan. Madrasi Mumbai Pahunch Gayi. Sigh.
When every thing you actually wished could happen, but dint seem to happen, and finaaly, when the doors seemed to shut, and hey! it actually happened like that! What a feeling. No words. Indebted to Him.(Excuse me, H is capitalized, and Him = God) Like never before. Some how zeroed in on a Master's in India. And I happily gave the GATE Exam in full pitched soaring temperature. Not knowing what I was writing. Some positive force, a culmination of my mother's prayers over the decade- pushed me and gave me the spirit and strength to write it. I was half dead with fever. I made my mind up to accept the results the way they were.
Results were ok. Happy I had managed to qualify despite the damn fever. Then googling for Universities started. Either the course was not of my choice; or the college. I sighed again. Then some random website quoted the list of Univs that people sought through GATE; and that was not a complete Database again; still I okayed myself and started going through the list. I zeroed in on 3 Colleges and 4 courses- 2 colleges no chance of getting in- I knew; I still did apply for the sheer pleasure of applying in there :-P and the third was were I am in. Again, here, 30 seats for one course; and 10 for the other; with reservation ruling the roost and me coming under outside state quota, no hopes at all. The 30 seat wala seemed probable; I applied for both though- just in case. Another entrance exam for 30 seat wala- with 500+ applicants- Gosh! God damn the population! And the result- Name in wait list. Woosh- the suspense lingers on. 10 seat wala course seats filled- huh; my dream course; so let it be in my dreams. Why does fever love me? :(
Then came the moment. 2 vacancies in 10 seat wala- 38 candidates called for counselling. Ok- let me try my luck. Opportunity has arrived at my doorstep. I come all the way- baggage et al, prepared to settle in, in case; and the classes were already on. And the moment happened- Pavitra K ( I am the southie with out the surname ;))finally got admitted. And her dream course is happening. A huge sigh of relief indeed.
As I type in, I wonder how much life has changed for the better over the past week. Hope I learn enough for life, and my Hindi gets fine tuned, too :-P
Its one blink that takes to change your world, indeed.

Its official.

Finally, I made it to the Grand Yellow Robe ceremony- as one of my Juniors put it:) Ever since the announcement was made for the Convocation, lots of mixed responses- I dont want to attend, I dont wanna travel, I'm not interested. Man, its my degree, and I am going there- people to be met (read hugged), casualities to be exchanged and moments to go nostalgic about- I am attending it.
Nothing really great about it, my University loves complicating matters, and some really couldn make it, for which I felt bad; and some dint turn up- Thats alryt :| And finally- the robe ceremony happened. A previous day stay at an old friend's place- I planned it out with her because I wanted to catch up with her like really a hell lot; we relived a lot of moments and spoke our hearts out- never was a night that peaceful as I slept with those thoughts. And the customary trip the next day to Coll from Trichy- and ya, gossip updates :-P
Post registration- the waiting- interspersed with "Hey you! Really long!" between great bear hugs; some forging the past between them and getting together- Sigh! Why is every thing seeming nice at the end? Then the procession and seating, followed by further gossip update sessions- for a moment my Under Graduation Degree seemed important :)
Inspiring speech sessions- for once my University had some thing memorable to do with us- APJ Abdul Kalam- Whatte man!
And then the 'epic' moment- Degree on stage; Congratulations, Hand shakes and hugs off stage- Awww. LOL.
And then came the moment I waited for- I had actually gone all the way only for those two Angels in my life- Brindha and Ramya. Post the ceremony, I waited to meet them- and finally realised something- these were the sisters I never had. The moment I saw them, every thing flashed past- Introducing ourselves as senior-junior room mates in third year, to just waiting to meet up on Convo. God bless them with every thing, I say. They love me for what I am, and they make me feel special. Being loved is the bestest feeling in the world, apart from being missed, I say. And one tight hug between us did it all- So is their charm. Both of them have been through enough in life, and I simply wish them peace of mind from now, and I so miss being with them and that very room, too. A couple of hours between us, and finally again, a Good Bye between us- I hate send offs, and being sent off, too. Separation aches. Really. And as I walked past the main gate- some thing mattered more to me than that very degree in my hand- tonnes of love between us- Love you both, all time; I wish I could freeze the moments between us that day.
I thank God for all their love; and hope we prosper in life.